While I have not spent a lot of time making cards in the past few years, I absolutely LOVE looking at them.  My hope is that someday I will actually start making them and sharing them with family and friends.  Last night I found some very cool Halloween cards created by Danielle Flanders.  They are very creative and truly original.  With her permission, I am going to share them with you.

Thanks for sharing Danielle!

Enjoy!

~ Jen

Lauren Meader from My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence created this beautiful Onesie card, and was then inundated with requests to explain how she created it.  She was gracious enough to post a tutorial to her blog so that everyone could create their own cards.  Her only request was that people remember to give credit to her for the tutorial and to use the cards for personal use only.  With that said, I have posted her card image with her permission, and hope that everyone who enjoys the tutorial will be kind enough to leave her a post and tell her how you found her.

Thanks for sharing so many great projects Lauren!

~ Jen

The lovely Ally created a gorgeous card that looks like a snowglobe. She was also kind enough to post a tutorial on her blog with the full instructions.

Here is Ally’s post from her blog:

Yup… apparently winter time is close.. well, according to this card it is!

I loved the 2 children out in the snow making a snowman stamp by Gina K. Designs’ called her “Got Snow?” stamp set! I paired it with the branch from the “Flowers for Daisy” set and I made it appear as if it were a snow globe.

First, I used my largest circular Spellbinder’s Nestability and embossed a large circle on to my card base. I ran a thin tipped marker along the embossed mark to make it stand out. Then I stamped the “Got Snow?” image inside the circle shape.

Then I coloured my image with Copic markers and chalks and finally added some liquid applique medium using a heat gun for some snowy dimension.

I then stamped 3 branch images on to a piece of scrap white cardstock, added extra colouring and shading using my Copic markers again and cut them out.

I adhered the 3 branches using a tape runner adhesive and some foam adhesive to help raise them off the surface of my card base. A few drops of cherry red Stickles for some berries and the card was complete!

Thanks for sharing your tutorial Ally!!

~ Jen

I came across this cute little card tutorial:

http://millymollytutorials.blogspot.com/2007/07/tiger-tiger-burning-bright.html

Hope you enjoy it!!!

For the font this week, I wanted to show you how you might use a particular font other than on your journaling.

1.  I first downloaded the “Typewriter Keys” font from dafont.com HERE.

2.  I opened my Photoshop program and created a new document using the same dimensions as a regular sheet of paper, 8.5×11.

3.  I created a black rectangle measuring approximately 4.5×5.5.  I’m going to be using my creation for a card so I only need a small piece of patterned paper.

4.   Then I created a new layer and clicked the text option.  I then typed in a whole line of random letters that spanned across the rectangular shape and off the edges.  I used a white font to show up on the black background.

5.  I then repeated step 4 and added multiple lines of font until the rectangle was covered.  Tip: You can add mini messages in your type, like “Happy Birthday” or “Have a great day”, or whatever message you would like depending on what you are going to use your paper for.

6.  Add any distressing or other digital elements and merge all your layers together.

7.  Print your page on cardstock and create using your piece of paper.

Here is my creation using the Typewriter Keys font:

Supplies:

Cardstock: Prism, The Paper Company. Stamps: Gina K. Designs.  Ribbon: Prima, Misc.  Flowers: Prima.  Arrow, Star: American Crafts.  Tools: Spellbinder’s Nestabilities.  Chalk: Craf-T.  Ink: Ranger, Copic.  Pen: Micron.  Other: thread.

I hope to see you make something using a font too.  Come and share with us here on the blog!

Here are a few sites that have great card sketches for you to use….

CCAS Resources

So Sketchy!

Sketch Lover

Scrap Maps

Wittyliving.com

Little Scrapbook Shop

Caardvarks

Card Positioning Systems

Poetic Artistry

Sketch This Cards

2 Sketches for You

Hope one of these sites inspires you to make some great cards to share with someone special!

This week I’m going to show you how to make a card with a very simple iris folding technique.

Supplies:

• one card base (4.25×5.5 inches)
• die cut shape or exacto knife
• bone folder
• scoring blade or a Scor-Pal like tool
• tape
• tape runner
• patterned paper
• ruler & pencil

Step One:

Gather your supplies together and create a “window” of any shape in the front of your card.  I used a Spellbinder’s Nestabilities scalloped circle die to create my window.  You can also trace or draw a shape and cut it out using an exacto knife or use a large punched shape.

Step Two:

Cut your paper into 4 x 1 inch strips.  Fold them in half along their length.  Pass your bone folder over the folds to make them nice and crisp.  I used my Scor-Pal tool to create my folds.  For my shape, I needed approximately 12 folded pieces but this could vary based on the size of your shape.

You should now have enough folded stripes to cover your window.  For my example, I used two different coloured pieces of patterned paper, a yellow and an orange.

Step Three:

Open up your card to the inside.  Draw one straight line across the bottom of your window slightly longer than the windth of your window.  Using your pencil and ruler, mark up from the drawn line a series of eavenly spaced marks or dots up BOTH sides of your window shape.  You will use these marks to ensure your folded patterned paper pieces are straight and evenly spaced.  I spaced mine at every 1/4 of an inch.

Step 4:

Take your tape runner and run a line of adhesive around the top half of your design.  Starting at the TOP of your window, place your first folded strip with the folded edge pointing down, using your guide marks to ensure it’s level across the window.  I used some tape to hold down the ends.  I also trimmed some of the strips as I went.  The strips may not appear even from the back side of the card but they will be even from the front.

Step Five:

Repeat the process of added strips of paper until you cover the complete window shape.  Make sure to add more adhesive to the inside edge of the window as you get further down the window’s shape.

Step Six:

Cut a piece of paper to hide the tape and paper strip backing.  It should be slightly smaller than the front of your card.  Mine was cut at 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches.  Adhere it over your finished back.

Step Seven:

Decorate the front of your card!  Now send it to someone special!

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: October Afternoon, Sassafrass Lass. Cardstock: Prism. Stamps: “You Are My Sunshine” set by Gina K. Designs. Ink: Ranger, Copic Markers.  Other: Craf-T chalk, Crystal Stickles, Liquid Applique and Ranger’s Glossy Accents.  Tool: Spellbinder’s Nestabilies, scalloped circle.

This week I wanted to show you how to use those gorgeous Cuttlebug embossing dies in other way other than just embossing.

Supplies:

1. cardstock
2. ink
3. embossing folder
4. brayer
5. die cut machine

Steps to a Cool Effect

1. Gather your supplies together.



2. Evenly load the brayer with ink.  Try rolling it across the pad in multiple directions for more even coverage.
3. Roll the inked brayer across the surface of the RAISED side of the Cuttlebug die.  The brayer works great in this case because it gives you even coverage of the raised surfaces and doesn’t allow excess ink to drip into the grooves.

   

4. Carefully lay your piece of cardstock on top of the inked surface.
5. Send the sandwiched folder through your die cut machine.
6. Use the inked and embossed cardstock to create a card of your own design.

Supplies: Cardstock; Bazzill, Prism, Doodlebug.  Stamp: BasicGrey.  Inks; Ranger,  Tsukineko.  Pearls: Hero Arts.  Pen; Creative Imaginations. Ribbon; Must Be Sold-by-Spool.  Die Cuts; Spellbinders (Nestabilities).  Tools; Cuttlebug embossing die.

Since a new month has begun, don’t forget if you complete a challenge, use a spot lighted font, create a page using our word of the week or complete any of the other challenges during the month, link us up or send your projects to Tara at thynner5@yahoo.ca for a chance to win.

Good luck!  I would love to see what kind of creations you create with the technique.

I am excited to share a great way to combine our love of Scrapbooking and helping a great cause!!

Ally has an amazing contest posted on her So Sketchy Blog where you make cards for the “Bring a Smile to a Child” campaign that was started by Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine. She is offering up some prizes for everyone who participates.

Check out her blog for more details!!

~Tara~

By Renee Zieglmeier - Design Team Member

April 2007

I love cardmaking, but sometimes I just get in a rut. Thats when I switch things up a bit and print about a dozen or so copies of my current favorite photos. I love photographing flowers, leaves and everyday objects. These photos would just be beautiful card fronts. To make it a little more personable to the recepient, why not use up some of those leftover stickers and rub ons you’ve been hoarding for months?
Supplies needed:

Multiple copies of photographic prints

Leftover Stickers, Saying stickers/Quote, themed, alphas (you know you all have a stash!)

Misc Rub Ons

Photo Corners

Cardstock

Adhesive
Step 1- Find a photo to create your card with, find some stickers/rub ons that would work well with the picture.

Step 2- Make copies of the favored print or find a variety of photos that will comply with your sticker sentiments. Place your sticker/rub on in desired position on photograph.

Step 3- Adhere your photo to cardstock and add photo corner and embellish as you wish.

Here are my 3 favorite cards I made using this technique.

Birthday Boy- Train Photograph Card- Sticker placed vertically, thin white border around photo, misc. cardstock for card base

Crisp and Cool- Crispy leaf dusted with some snow; Clear EK Success Sticker, Quickutz Photo Corners cut out of Bazzill Bling Cardstock, Misc Cardstock for card base

Happy Birthday- Photo of Crazy Daisies- “Happy” metal embellishment and clear “Birthday” sticker, Quickutz Photo Corner Dies cut out of Chatterbox Paper, Misc Cardstock for card base

On the backs of the cards, I printed up some small ‘Photography by Renee’ labels along with my email address should the recipient want to get their hands on more of my cards! This is a great way to advertise your photography and papercrafting talents!

This tutorial and many others can be found in the CCAs Resources Wiki.